Miniature rose plant named `Kay Denise`

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Kay Denise` which is characterized by buds and blooms in shades of coral-pink with a paler reverse. Blooms of this rose are usually borne one to a stem with hybrid tea form and in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The bush is vigorous, well-branched and produces moderate to heavy blooms.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy,dwarf, bush plant of the miniture class; the variety being primarilycharacterized as pink blend.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms of hybrid tea-type form, borne usually one to a stemand in compact sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The blooms are held very erectand well above the foliage.

The plant ranges in height from 24 to 36 inches (60 to 80 cm). The canesare sturdy and erect with moderate branching and medium to heavy foliagecovering. The plant is a heavy bloomer that does well either in thegreenhouse or outdoors.

The plant has good growth habits, well-shaped and attractive, bearingnumerous leaflets of average size. Asexual reproduction of the newvariety by cuttings derived from the plant stem, as performed at ChulaVista, Calif., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctionscome true to form and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagations.

The seed parent was Tiki (hybridized by S. McGredy IV; introduced byMcGredy; 1964), and the pollen parent was My Delight (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 5,437). It differs from its seed parent in the following ways. It isa miniature rose with open bloom size of 4 to 5 cm, and Tiki is afloribunda with open bloom size of 5 to 7 cm and an overall light pinkcoloration. It differs from its pollen parent in the following ways. Itproduces blooms in shades of coral-pink with a paler reverse, and MyDelight produces blooms in light pink overall.

The single color photographic view shows, in plain view, a bouquet of`Kay Denise` in various stages of maturity from bud stage to nearly openbloom stage.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to roses grown and colorvalues observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of Marchthrough November of 1996. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista,Calif., and are believed to be accurate standards for this cultivar insimilar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

Referring now specifically to the new distinct variety of miniature roseplant named `Kay Denise`, the following is a detailed descriptionthereof in outline; all major color plate identifications being byreference to the British Colour Council Horticultural Chart, exceptwhere common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, greenhouse or outdoor, exhibition or gardendecorative potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety Name: Kay Denise.

Flowers borne: Usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to5 or more on erect stems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Heavy both outdoors or greenhouse grown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Average length (30 to 50 mm); average diameter and sturdy;ranging from near Scheeles Green (860/3 to 860/1 page 176) withoccasional tinting of bronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and sparse with a reddish color; located overthe surface of the peduncle and calyx tube.

Calyx.--Color range same as peduncle.

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Average for a miniature variety (40 to 50 mm).

Petalage.--Full -- 25 to 35 petals, arranged regularly, plus 5 to 10petaloids.

Form.--Urn-shaped to ovoid as the bloom opens. The petals remainsomewhat cupped with the apex and/or margins reflexed outward, becomingat maturity more loosely cupped.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance; both the upper and undersurfaces of all petals have a matte finish.

Shape.--Outer petals are of a broad obovate form. The intermediatepetals are very much like the outer petals only narrower. The innerpetals are a broad lanceolate form; and the petaloids are alsolanceolate with some occasional irregularities.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (March throughNovember of 1996), Chula Vista, Calif.

Upper surfaces.--Upper and under surfaces Ranging from near ChineseCoral (614/2 to 614/1 page 614) to near Coral Pink (0619/3 to 0619/2page 182), with darker tones of near Mandarin Red (17/3 to 17/2 page 17)in warmer weather.

Under surfaces.--Slightly paler to upper surfaces in same color ranges.

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers -- Coral-pink with a palerreverse. Three days open -- Slightly paler tones overall. After fivedays -- Color overall pale coral-pink.

Flower longevity (March through November 1996).--Plant in pot 5 to 7days from bud with sepals reflexed to fully open bloom. Holding at fullyopened for 5 to 7 days longer. Cut blooms at living room temperature 10to 14 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filaments.--Varying in length with shorter filaments more proximal tothe pistil; pale yellow in color with anthers of golden yellow.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistil.--Short, spreading and abundant; pale yellow.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seeds.--3 to 5 or more in each hip.

Foliage:

Sepals.--Permanent; simple and glabrous; spear-shaped; open as the bloomopens, recurving against the peduncle, when the bloom is fully opened.Occasional foliaceous appendages attractively supplement sepalterminals; these are of varying lengths.

Leaves.--5 to 7 leaflets on average; medium size for a miniature roseplant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margins.--Very serrated with tinting of bronze, especially noticeable onthe newer foliage.

Color.--Ranging from near Spinach Green (0960/3 to 0960 page 187) tonear Scheeles Green (860/1 to 860 page 175) with occasional bronzing ofthe margins, especially on the newer foliage. Upper surfaces have asemi-glossy finish, and the under surfaces have a matte finish of aslightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairsover the length of it. Under surface has few if any hairs but doescontain 2 to 5 small thorns.

Stipules.--Varying in length from small to medium; average width;tapering auricles angled outward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, bush; above average for a miniature rose plant.

Rate and character.--Vigorous and well-branched.

Canes.--Medium diameter; sturdy; held erect.

Main stems.--Color range same as foliage.

Thorns.--Averaging less than 5 to 10 per 10 cm on the main stems andbranches. Reddish in color; average size; slender and hooked slightlydownward.

Branches.--Coloration ranges the same as does that of the foliage.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown in Chula Vista, Calif.

No information related to insect, disease or frost tolerance isavailable due to the controlled growing conditions under which ourplants are produced and maintain, which includes regular application offungicides and pesticides on all plants and the immediate elimination ofany inferior seedlings which demonstrate a tendency to develop diseasesor other unpleasant habits. As to frost tolerence, all of our plants aregrown in Chula Vista, Calif. which is located in a moderate temperaturezone that would rarely experience frost or freezing temperatures. Forthe above mentioned reasons, the specifications have not been expandedfurther.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant, named `Kay Denise`, hardy, dwarf, vigorous growth,well-branched and attractive in appearance, substantially as illustratedand described; characterized by its hybrid tea form blooms, ranging fromnear Chinese Coral to near Coral Pink with occasionally deeper tonesnear Mandarin Red in warmer weather, and having a paler reverse in allweather, which are abundant on the bush and usually borne one to a stemsbut occasionally in sprays of 3 to 5 or more.